Dr. Andrew Castle House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Woodbridge as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbridge gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #47 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then hurricanes (24%). Flood insurance has paid 60 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Woodbridge faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Woodbridge’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodbridge, and Woodbridge’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 24% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #47 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Woodbridge’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Connecticut town has higher expected damage than 62% of U.S. towns; within the state, Woodbridge has less expected damage per building than 70% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across Woodbridge: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Woodbridge flood? Sometimes: 60 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woodbridge, from FEMA’s records: 17.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Elsa2 claims · $6K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $15K
Woodbridge isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: the county.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Woodbridge
Disasters that paid out in Woodbridge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Woodbridge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$181K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$22K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$69K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$122K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$315K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$114K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs
Show all 12
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$273K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $15K
- 2011Snowstorm$57K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs
- 2006Snow$24K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$27K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs
- 2003Snow$25K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs
- 2003Snow$15K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs
Old photos of Woodbridge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woodbridge archive →Woodbridge and its neighbors
Woodbridge is 2nd of the 8 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Woodbridge | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 60 |
| Seymour | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Orange | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| New Haven | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 313 |
| Ansonia | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hamden | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 404 |
| Derby | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Woodbridge faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Woodbridge
Is Woodbridge at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbridge has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #47 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and hurricanes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Woodbridge flood?
Flood insurance has paid 60 claims in Woodbridge since 1979, $523K in all, or 17.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Elsa (2).
Is Woodbridge in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In the county, 52% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Woodbridge?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Woodbridge’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Woodbridge?
By FEMA money that reached Woodbridge, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $315K to the Town of Woodbridge for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Elsa: 2 paid, $6K.
Is Woodbridge at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Woodbridge’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodbridge.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodbridge’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.